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Petr Gazdik: Avert damage from the governing coalition
Photo: Katerina Sulova / CTK Photo / IMAGO
Shortly before the start of the Czech EU Council Presidency, an affair is weighing on the government in Prague.
Education and Youth Minister Petr Gazdik from the conservative party STAN announced his resignation on June 30.
The 47-year-old explained on Twitter that he did not feel guilty, but wanted to avert damage from his party and the coalition.
Gazdik got into trouble because of relationships with a businessman who is one of the accused in an affair about suspicious orders from the Prague transport company.
The police are investigating the formation of a criminal organization.
Gazdik himself is not one of the suspects.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala praised the decision to resign as an "honorable step" and a contribution to improving the political culture.
It will be the first change of ministers since the five-party liberal-conservative coalition took office at the end of December.
On July 1, the Czech Republic takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Council of heads of state and government.
Among other things, 14 informal ministerial meetings and one summit meeting are planned.
The motto is »Europe as a task«.
svs/dpa